Contents

I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that.

Maybe I didn't really know you. Maybe you were just a mirage. Maybe the world is full of food and sex and spectacle and we're all just hurling towards an apocalypse, in which case it's not your fault. I'm been thinking about all these things and... you're probably standing there monitoring. And one more thing - about the letter. Nuke it. Flame it. Destroy it. - It hurts me to know it's out there. Later.

She's gone. She gave me a pen. I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen.

What I really want to do with my life - what I want to do for a living - is I want to be with your daughter. I'm good at it.

Lloyd Dobler: Don't worry about it. We're just having coffee. We'll be anti-social.

Diane Court: Be friends?

Lloyd Dobler: Yeah. With potential.

D.C.: Lloyd, why do you have to be like this?

Lloyd Dobler: 'Cause I'm a guy. I have pride.

Corey Flood: You're not a guy.

Lloyd Dobler: I am.

Corey Flood: No. The world is full of guys. Be a man. Don't be a guy.

Diane Court: Are you shaking?

Lloyd Dobler: No.

Diane Court: You're shaking.

Lloyd Dobler: I don't think so.

Diane Court: You're cold.

Lloyd Dobler: I don't think I am.

Diane Court: Then why are you shaking?

Lloyd Dobler: I don't know. I think I'm happy.

Diane Court: I have this theory of convergence, that good things always happen with bad things. I know you have to deal with them at the same time, but I just don't know why they have to happen at the same time. I just wish I could work out some schedule. Am I just babbling? Do you know what I mean?

Lloyd Dobler: No.

Lloyd Dobler: Check your mail tomorrow. I sent you a letter, a letter.

Diane Court: Your letter came yesterday.

Lloyd Dobler: It did?

Diane Court: Uh-huh. It was wonderful.

Lloyd Dobler: Why didn't you tell me?

Diane Court: It was wonderful.

Lloyd Dobler: I've never sent a letter like that, you know? I mean, I felt like I wanted to tell you something, but I didn't put it in the letter, and I didn't say it, but I want to say it now, I'm not sure if I should say it, you know, 'cause people always say it and don't mean it, but I think that I mean it, so, um, I just wanted to tell you...

Diane Court: No, we don't have to say it.

Lloyd Dobler: How do you know what I'm going to say?

Diane Court: I don't know what you're going to say, but I think that...

Lloyd Dobler: I was just going to tell you that I love you. [pause] I said it.

Diane Court: I know. Lloyd, let's not start putting things on this level.

Lloyd Dobler: What? This is a good level, isn't it?

Diane Court: How can I look at you and say this?

Lloyd Dobler: Say what?

[He leans over, kisses her, and smiles.]

Diane Court: I think that we should spend some time apart.

Lloyd Dobler: What's wrong?

Diane Court: Well, I need to study, and...

Lloyd Dobler: You need to study?

Diane Court: Yeah.

Lloyd Dobler: Okay, how much time do you need? I mean, you know, I mean you'll be leaving in a little while, so that's answered some questions.

Diane Court: We'll see.

Lloyd Dobler: Okay. It's good knowing this.

Diane Court: Yeah, uh-huh.

[Lloyd brings the car to a full stop.]

Lloyd Dobler: Okay, what did we just decide?

Diane Court: We decided...

Lloyd Dobler: 'Cause I'm worried, did you just break up with me?

Diane Court: No, no.

Lloyd Dobler: It sounded like you did.

Diane Court: No. We decided that we're friends. I mean, I know it's a terrible word...

Lloyd Dobler: Well, if we're friends, why can't we see each other?

Diane Court: I think that we should stop going out on dates.

Lloyd Dobler: I feel like a dick. You must think I'm a dick.

Diane Court: No, I don't, I don't.

Lloyd Dobler: Yeah you do.

Diane Court: Lloyd, we shared the most intimate thing two people can share.

Lloyd Dobler: You shared it with a dick.

Lloyd Dobler: [after saying he loves her] What? I'm sorry I said that. Forget I said it, it's what I thought I meant, but...

Diane Court: Lloyd...

Lloyd Dobler: ...forget it.

Diane Court: [making air quotes] "I love you," okay?

Lloyd Dobler: What is that? What are you doing with your hands?

Diane Court: Don't! Don't be - !

Lloyd Dobler: Talk to me, you're talking like that girl, Sheila!

Diane Court: Don't be mean, this is hard for me too.

Lloyd Dobler: [pauses] Then don't do it.

Diane Court: Shit. [She turns away from him and takes the pen from her coat pocket] Just take this pen, please, and write me?

[She puts the pen on the car dashboard, and turns away again]

Lloyd Dobler: I can't believe this. You just broke up with me.

[They both sit in silence]

Denny: Man, all you gotta do is find a girl that looks just like her, nail her, and then dump her, man. Get her of your mind.

Mark: Your only mistake is that you didn't dump her first. Diane Court is a show pony. You need a stallion, my friend. Walk with us and you walk tall.

Luke: Bitches, man.

Lloyd Dobler: I got a question. If you guys know so much about women, how come you're here at like the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?

Joe: [pause] By choice, man.

Diane Court: Lloyd, I'm sorry.

Lloyd Dobler: What do you want?

Diane Court: I'm sorry.

Lloyd Dobler: What do you want?

Diane Court: My father's guilty. He lied to me, he lied to everybody. I just left home... I need you.